The Logic of Covert Action

Because the United States and the Soviet Union are no longer competing in Third World proxy wars, the rationale for most traditional covert action has disappeared. However, new threats such as terrorism and proliferation may sometimes require the

Few U.S. government activities are as controversial as covert action.Americans may disagree about the specifics of trade policy or defensespending, but covert action is controversial to the core. Many covertoperations, if carried out by different persons and under othercircumstances, would be plainly and seriously criminal. The processfor reviewing and approving such operations tests the limits ofdemocracy. It is not surprising, therefore, that while some officialsand pundits are firmly of the opinion that we need to maintain covertaction as an option, others insist that the United States has nobusiness carrying out such operations in any circumstances.